STEVE MORISON: Lambert fined players for having mobiles at training... but he made you feel unbeatable (plus, being mates with that bloke from TOWIE!)

PUBLISHED: 01:30 EST, 7 October 2013 | UPDATED: 02:40 EST, 7 October 2013

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Millwall striker Steve Morison reveals his love of animals and how he got into owning a greyhound with former strike partner Grant Holt in his debut Footballers' Football Column. The Wales international returned to The Den in the summer after spells in the Premier League with Norwich and at Championship rivals Leeds. Morison explains how he rose from playing in the non-League game to playing for his country at the Millennium Stadium. Before you read his column, watch his video below...

Footballers' Football Column: Steve Morison

I’ve always loved animals and my family home in King’s Lynn is like a miniature farm. I’ve got everything: horses, goats, chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, fish, ferrets, and even chipmunks. I’ve got it all.

I watched greyhound racing on TV an awful lot when I was growing up and I would go to Walthamstow for races. When I was at Norwich I met a trainer Jim Daly, who suggested I buy a share in a dog. So I did, then another, and then I bought my own dog.

My strike partner Grant Holt would come to watch it run with me and he got the buzz and bought a dog. Soon we had about five between us and we started a small club, SMGH Greyhound Racing. People pay a little bit of money to own shares in the dogs but without the risk if they get injured. We have about 60 shareholders now and Ladbrokes sponsor us.

Animal lover: Millwall striker Steve Morison opens up about his love for animals and greyhounds

Going to the dogs: Morison says he has always been into Greyhound racing

Partner in crime: Grant Holt has a share in a greyhound with his former Norwich striker partner Morison

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Greyhounds are not pets, they’re trained like footballers. They are fed the right stuff, warmed up, and stretched before races. Our new kennels will be in Wisbech, near Peterborough. It’s a good set up and be nice for people to get involved in the sport.

Grant rings me at about eight o’clock every morning to make sure I’m up and to check on our dogs. It’s a daily thing and we’re a pain to trainer Jim, always asking him questions. We love it.

It’s a great night out but I don’t bet on them, just watch. If my dog wins I will watch the video over and over again, like I do if I score a goal. Before that dog leaves those traps the nerves are incredible. During the race you end up just shouting random thoughts. There have been times when people have looked up at me and Grant and wondered what we were doing.

The buzz it gives you is about not being in control. With horses, the jockey is in control to a degree. On the football pitch I’m in control of my game. But once you put that dog in that trap it could jump over the fence and run away. You’ve got no control. It’s an unbelievable feeling.

I can’t eat before a race. If we go to the track I pray my dog is racing in the first hour so I can get some food afterwards. We used to go to Yarmouth and they’d put our dogs on last – to make sure we stayed there for the whole night. But it used to kill me because I couldn’t eat till 10.30pm.

We’ve just had our first litter of pups as well, from our dog Norfolk Canary. We took her to a stud and she’s had eight babies. She gave birth on the Friday night and Saturday morning before we beat Charlton 1-0. I got an update of every pup that was born, they’d come about half an hour apart with a little write up.

Grant said to me: ‘I’m like a proud dad.’ I said: ‘Well yes, you’ve got three daughters.’ I recently sent him a picture of the mum feeding her baby – he wants to be kept updated.

Grant and I are great friends. We met at Norwich after Paul Lambert paid just shy of £3million to take me from Millwall. I didn’t know what to expect. I wondered if I would play but it was too good an opportunity to turn down. In the end I played near enough every week and scored nine times in the Premier League. I got goals at the Etihad, twice against Arsenal, and played at Anfield where I’d watched many a game in my youth as a supporter.

Friends off the pitch: Holt and Morison struck up a good relationship on and off the pitch

I couldn’t say it was a dream come true, because I’d never dreamed of playing in the Premier League. I was released by Northampton as a 21-year-old kid having enjoyed myself to the point where I was about to play non-league football. I was in the car in tears driving down to Bishop’s Stortford. It was a massive fall from grace.

Since signing at 17 I had spent more time enjoying life than concentrating on my football – out every Wednesday and Saturday. Just not doing what was needed to be a professional football player.

At Bishop’s Stortford I had to get a job which meant waking up at silly times in the morning and driving round in a lorry. I started not wanting to train in the evenings because I’d worked and was tired.

But I scored goals and one Tuesday night when we were playing Bognor Regis I got a call saying Stevenage wanted to sign me. I walked into the office at work the next morning and asked them if I could leave.

Golden goal: Morison celebrates scoring for Stevenage in the FA Trophy win over York

Non-league roots: Morison played for Bishop's Stortford and Stevenage

Five years later I was playing against some of the best defenders in the world. Paul Lambert had tried to sign me in January 2011 and Kenny Jackett asked me my thoughts. I’d missed out on a hell of a lot of Football League career so would like the opportunity.

I’d also been linked to Fulham and missed a Millwall game at one stage. People said it was because I was leaving. It was actually because my wife Leanne was giving birth to my son Fenton.

The January move didn’t happen and I thought that was it when Norwich got promoted, but they came back in for me in the summer. Millwall didn’t stand in my way.

Paul Lambert makes you feel like you’re untouchable. You end up wanting to win for him more than for yourself. Sometimes he wouldn’t talk much, just put his arm round you as you walked out to training and say, ‘You were awesome on Saturday’. Then he would just carry on walking.

On the other hand if it’s not right he tells you too. He goes round the dressing room before each game and tells each player what he expects off them. It’s the same thing after – tells you what you did and what you didn’t do. It’s in front of everyone: people get hammered and praised.

He’s enjoyable to work for. That first season was great and the fact we played with no fear came from him. We covered the most ground in the Premier League and never got away from our philosophy.

He wouldn’t allow mobile phones in the training ground. It was a fine if he saw you. I used to have mine in my car but a lot of lads had them in their lockers. I can’t count the number of times someone would have mobile in the dressing room and he’d walk past: ‘Fine.’

It got to a point where people would keep an eye out and say, ‘Gaffer’s coming’. He’d walk through and go, ‘Lads’. Then they would all get their phones out. But he would turn round and walk straight back in the door. ‘Right, there’s six of you,’ he’d say. ‘Morro, you saw them.’ If you didn’t tell him who the six were, you’d have had to pay all their fines. I think it went towards his meal on a Friday night.

Taskmaster: Paul Lambert banned mobile phones at the Norwich training ground

He’d also join in the circle during training. You weren’t allowed to swear at him if he messed up or he’d fine you. If you tried to meg him it was a fine. If he gave it away, whoever passed it to him had to go in the middle. So you just tried not to pass to him.

When Chris Hughton came in you could see from day one he was going to play with a lone striker and Grant Holt would be it. Near enough every single game I would start on the bench and play the last half hour or 20 minutes. It was incredibly boring, incredibly frustrating.

I spoke to the manager many times but it was black and white. Every fan knew what formation and who would play before it came out. It was very rigid.

The only time anything came up was when Grant went about 10 games without a goal so I asked, ‘Any chance or me trying?’ But it never changed. Grant got injured and I played against Manchester City. Sod’s law I tore my quad. That’s life.

Mixed messages: Morison says Chris Hughton told him he wanted to keep him - then told him he could leave

Swap shop: Luciano Becchio moved to Norwich while Morison went the other way and joined Leeds

I spoke to the manager over the January transfer window and he said he wanted me at the club. But then the last day he called to say he wanted to swap me for Luciano Becchio. I spoke to Neil Warnock and he made me want to go there. But I would still like to see Chris Hughton and ask him if I did something to upset him in those last couple of days. One minute I wasn’t going, and the next I’m being swapped for a player in the Championship who hadn’t done anything in the Premier League. I’d scored goals in that division.

I never really got going at Leeds. Partly because of an underlying hernia problem that I have now had an operation to rectify. Brian McDermott came in and after the summer told me I could leave Leeds on the first day of pre-season. He wanted to bring another player in. So I spoke to Steve Lomas and he was really positive and wanted me to come and lead the line. It was a no brainer. It feels like coming home. Hopefully the fans will love me again.

Den of dreams: Millwall manager Steve Lomas convinced Morison to return to the club

Banging them in: Morison celebrates scoring for Millwall against Blackpool

It was great to score at the Den against Blackpool in the 3-1 win. It’s not often you hit them like that. Once we equalised I knew we would win. The Millwall fans were right behind us and when they are pushing you it’s fantastic.

I don’t think they realise themselves how good they can be for us, but also how much of a hindrance they can be if they’re not with us. In my first spell there were so many games we’d be losing and get back and draw – or we’d be drawing and win – in the last few minutes, purely because they push you over the line. They are absolutely brilliant.

But it’s the complete opposite when you’re behind, like against Derby, when we lost 5-1. You’re two, three down and they turn on you a bit and it always seems to get worse. So please try to stick with us Millwall fans.

Influence: Morison says Kenny Jackett played a big part in his career

Making his name: Morison was the in form striker in the Championship in his first spell at Millwall

Kenny Jackett was huge in my career. I went 18 games when I first joined Millwall and scored two goals. He could have quite easily said he’d made a mistake and put me to one side. But he kept playing me. I scored the winner in the last minute against MK Dons then I went on a run of 21 goals in 34 games. I owe my career to date to Kenny.

He picked me up from Stevenage Borough, where I had become the first player to score a winner at the new Wembley. It was in the FA Trophy final against Kidderminster in front of 53,000 people – still a competition record attendance. We were the favourites and clubs from higher levels had expressed an interest in signing me.

Dream come true: Morison got the call up to play for Wales and came up against England

But with 10 minutes gone we were 2-0 down and I was having a shocker. We went in at half time and the manager told me: ‘You’ll never get out of this league if that’s how you’re going to play’. We went out and turned in around. I scored the winner in the 89th minute. It was Roy of the Rovers stuff and one of my proudest moments – something that can never be taken away.

Another career highlight has been playing international football for Wales. My debut came during my second season for Millwall. I was playing well and got a phone call from Roy Evans asking if I would be interested. They had seen I had some Welsh grandparents. I said it would be a great honour.

I’ve got 20 caps now, played against England twice, and can say I’ve played with the most expensive player of all time in Gareth Bale. I’ve set him up, he’s set me up. He’s a great lad. He’s quiet off the pitch but on the pitch he’s like a computer game. If he wants to do something he does it.

Friends: Morison is friends with former TOWIE star Mark Wright

Teammate: Morison plays with Mark's brother Josh Wright at Millwall

It’s like a game of FIFA with him. You leave him to it and if he sets you up you try and get on the end of it. I don’t think any players are worth the money being paid now but you would pay to watch him play. He’s fantastic. When I first went there he was good but now, even in small-sided training games, he’s untouchable.

I’m good friends with Mark Wright because his dad, Mark Wright Senior, is my advisor. Mark Junior was actually at Stortford for a time as well. Josh, his brother, is a player at Millwall now and occasionally he comes down to the Den.

I used to watch TOWIE when Mark was in it but when he left I lost interest. I would get all the inside info, which made my wife happy. He used to tell me when storylines were made up. My wife says he’s ‘really pretty’.

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Jako, Glasgow, 1 month ago

James best Tipperary ............I am delighted to hear that but as you know as in all animal sports there are loads of bad apples .It wasnt that long ago police were dragging an old quarry not far from Glasgow looking for someone who had gone missing and the place was full of sacks with greyhound bones in them .as you said there are loads of small time racers who love their dogs , but when they become commercial kennels ..........it stinks more than a bit and they can be ruthless .

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Red, UK, 1 month ago

Decent bloke! Great to see that.

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Miss C Sense, Norwich, United Kingdom, 1 month ago

I love Steve Morison; he just proves there are some lovely, down to Earth guys playing football. The sadness over the loss of Lambert still runs deep.

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JamesBest, Tipperary, 1 month ago

I have been involved with greyhound racing for many years. I don't sell dogs and I keep all my dogs regardless of how they performed on the track even if they didn't want to race at all. Retired greyhounds make excellent pets. They are over the puppy stage, don't eat too much, have short coats, don't need much exercise as they are couch potatoes and love human company. It is a little known fact that 3% of all winning prize money in every race in Ireland is deducted by the Irish Greyhound Board and donated to the Retired Greyhound Trust to be used for rehoming greyhounds which are neutered and given full anti rabies passports before they go to their new homes that will have been vetted. Of course there are always bad apples that spoil the barrel and they are the ones that get all the bad publicity after all it is not a news story or headline "Greyhound trainer looks after his dogs".

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Suby, Derby, 1 month ago

Take a look at the greyhound industry. Thousands of greyhouds are killed every year because they get injured, or dont make the grade. Do some research people and boycott greyhound racing.